The Gate

The picture is of a gate in the Byzantine walls of Thessaloníki, Greece. Until the beginning of the industrial era, most cities around the world had gates. It was a clear demarcation between the city and the surrounding countryside. However seeing gates in these pre-industrial cities conjures up the metaphoric use of gates. The Bible has many references to them. The one that I remember is “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (Psalm 100: 4).” The references to gates in the Bible are literal and also metaphoric as seen in this link: http://www.bible-topics.com/Gates.html. The "gate" metaphor is still in our vocabulary transferred from an era where gates were a significant part of the morphology of a city.

In the mercantilist and industral city, gates ceased to be a defense mechanism is as the city was protected through the nation-state. Most cities in Europe tore down their walls. They can stilll be perceived in the street patterns of many of the cities. In a few cases, they did survive and recall a different and less hostile city. The early American British colonial cities such as Boston and Charleston had walls and gates. (It should be noted that many North American and Middle American pre-European settlements had walls--either of stone or wood. Therefore, it may considered to be part of the human embeded mind .) However, once the threats of other coloninal powers (e.g., French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese) were minimal due to the naval power of the British Empire and the entry of the early industiral era into the American colonies, walls ceased to be relavent. Walls were not necessary for defense against the attacks by Native Americans as they had been effectively subugated early in the history of the American colonies, either by disease, masacure or relocation. For this reason, there are no prominent city walls in US cities. In recent times, walls around upper middle and high income residential settlements (Gated Communities) have become commonplace around the world. It should be fairly clear that such segregation is an affront to urban living and grounded in manufactured consumer-oriented fear of the other.

Urban Protest

(Image found at http://www.vagabondjourney.com/2009-travel-photos/water-protest-istanbul.jpg at Vagonbond.Journey.com. If you have further interst about the surroundings of the above photo, please read the following page on this website:
http://www.vagabondjourney.com/travelogue/2009/03/water-wars-in-istanbul-turkey.html )

The city is often the backdrop of protest. Cities should allow peaceful protest as a way for its citizens to express their concerns about local or international issues. In civil societies, it can be a venue to educate urban residents and others about their concerns. However, in some cases the atmosphere is presumed to be one of conflict by local authorities. This was often the case in Istanbul. I was by happenstance in Uskardar (Asian side of Istanbul) on a day when the Turkish Communist Party was organizing a rally. The police was there with tanks and lined up geared up for conflict. It was a grey rainy day which added to the foreboding atmosphere of possible violence. Trying to exit this area was not easy as some of the roads had been blocked etc. The above photo (not taken by myself) was taken during the Water Conference in Istanbul. This did not turn into a peaceful event either. The most major protest event is May Day in Istanbul. This day is filled with controversy and sometimes violence by the protesters and the police. Some of the protesters obviously want to cause disturbances and welcome arrest and violence. The urban flaneur observes these events and contemplates on the multiple forces at work. Of course, s/he would rather be at a cafe with their espresso and enjoying the life of the city. Their means of protest and comment is media, not action. The impacts of media can be far more effective than an actual protest event, which could be paralleled to a tragic circus or drama.

The City as a Playground

What a wonderful scene! This is the famous beach of Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro. The view is spectacular, the beaches wide and cafes everywhere. This photograph was taken in winter time, but winter is not so bad in Rio-- as can be seen. However, it can be also rainy and inhospitable in winter, as I also discovered. In this photograph, people are in casual attire, biking, talking and enjoying the atmosphere. If not for other engagements and need for additional income, I would have gladly missed my plane and stayed for an extended period. Urban magical places just don't happen. They are created and nurtured! Granted, some are helped by nature, as in case of Rio. However, despite having one of the most spectacular beaches in the world, this could have been a drab place.

From the Ordinary to the Exraordinary

This is the pedestrian bridge across the Thames River in London which links the St. Paul area with the New Tate Gallery. Instead of a plain bridge, this is a work of art in itself connecting both in physical and metaphorical space the museum with the masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren (St. Paul's Cathedral). This photo even show how the bridge does not hide St. Paul's, but frames it. Although I have a mixed view of the Bauhaus School , because it resulted in modern architecture which has made city skylines around the world the same, the concept of utilitarian as art that the School promoted is thankfully still being practiced in some rare places.

Patricia Kaas

I saw Patricia Kaas in Istanbul. I became an instant fan. This video and the song embodies the feeling of being a flaneur.